Thursday, July 21, 2011

In Windows Vista, be default the Administrator account is disabled. However, if you use a password reset tool, there is a chance that you can enable this account and cause it to appear on the Welcome Screen. There is an easy way to fix this. From an elevated command prompt (right-click cmd and select "Run as Administrator"), type:

net user Administrator /active:no

If the forward-slash causes you problems, simply enter the same command without it. If you're successful some text should output indicating the command was issued successfully and the Administrator account should disappear form the Welcome Screen and return to its disabled state.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Problem: Everything from the desktop and documents folders disappeared

Solution:
In XP: Click start, click run, type in "CMD" then press enter. In the command window, type in cd \, then type in the command "attrib -h /s /d" Wait for this to complete. You should see all directories and files. If some are still hidden, such as the desktop contents. Restart the computer. Scan with your antivirus solution.

In Vista: Open the windows globe, type in cmd, once it shows cmd (or command) right click on it and click run on administrator. In the command window, type in cd \, then type in the command "attrib -h /s /d" Wait for this to complete. You should see all directories and files. If some are still hidden, such as the desktop contents. Restart the computer. Scan with your antivirus solution.

Some infections will hide the desktop. Make sure you scan with several good scanning utilities but not multiple antivirus products that scan the computer at the same time. This will cause you to not only slow down but to also potentially crash the computer.

Monday, May 23, 2011

First step, restart the computer and try again. If that does not work the machine might need a .Net cleanup tool. This tool can be found on Microsoft's website. If you do not want to go there for the download you can get it from here or here. After the tool is done, restart. Re-run the tool. Restart again. Start all of your windows updates. This should fix the problem.

This applies to Windows XP at least, I do not know if it works on any other operating systems. This has fixed at least two systems that say windows update is not enabled but in the system properties -> automatic updates tab the system is enabled and has a time set to install automatic updates. This system can either be ran through batching or through manual command prompt entries. I use a single batch file for all 5 commands and it works flawlessly on systems that can be fixed with this tool. This is what my batch file looks like:

RegSvr32 C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuapi.dll

RegSvr32 c:\WINDOWS\system32\Wuaueng.dll

RegSvr32 C:\WINDOWS\system32\atl.dll

RegSvr32 C:\WINDOWS\system32\wucltui.dll

RegSvr32 C:\WINDOWS\system32\wups.dll

pause

The pause at the end is not necessary but it is useful to know when the system is complete. If you are running the commands manually do not enter the pause line. If you don't know how to make a batch file click here to learn how.

Problem:
Internet Explorer 8 automatically installs with the first series of updates to Windows XP after a clean install then fails to install properly.

Solution:
Download the IE8 installer and run it manually or do not install IE8 until batch 2 or 3 of the update process (microsoft recently fixed this issue with needing to wait until the 2nd or 3rd batch of updates. You should be able to install on the first batch without problems). The shortcut in the start menu will also have to be replaced with a manual shortcut from the all programs list.

3. Log in as per normal4. Allow the Desktop to fully load5. Click onStart-Run6. Type in exactly:rundll32.exe syssetup,SetupOobeBnk(and clickOK)(note: one space, after "rundll32.exe " also the Oo are two letter o's in "oobe"; capitals and comma are important)7. Wait a couple of seconds(although you will Not see any change)8.Restartyour PC normally(Start - Shutdown - Restart - Ok)9. You are now able to go to Normal Mode again

Solution: Install all windows updates, including service packs, first then reattempt install. If another error is given uninstall MSE from programs list. Then reattempt install with the latest file from here.